Expat Community > Canada

Psyentist
Joined 2016
Posts: 1

Maybe moving, confused on where to start

8 years ago

Hi all,
I'm a US citizen thinking of moving to Canada, hopefully long-term. I realize I'm going to have to have a source of income, place to live, etc, but I don't know the order in which to go about things. Do I need to try and apply for a work permit before I apply to jobs? I found a list of employers who routinely consider hiring non-Canadians and am looking at those, but how does that work? Do I apply and THEN if they decide to hire me then I apply for a work permit? Or do I need some kind of authorization to even apply for a job? I don't know if it makes a difference but I'm a software engineer and I want to live in or near Vancouver.
Anyway I guess I'm just wondering what I need to do first to be able to get a job there so I can do other things like afford a place to live.
Bonus question: it looks like you need an English proficiency test to apply for a work permit, but I don't know where to take this....is there anywhere in the US I can take it? English is my first language but I guess I have to take it anyway.
Thanks for any help! I'm totally confused!

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